STUDENT DEBT IS OUR ISSUE

Student debt is a community issue that affects the lives of not only those in debt but the communities in which they live. This site is dedicated to raising awareness of the national debt crisis and moving debt from an issue for the individual to an...

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Do you have a complaint against your student loan provider?

Do you have a complaint against your student loan provider? 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau logs complaints and helps consumers resolve issues with their loan providers

The information and complaints are stored in a database that is available to anyone looking for information on different loan providers and banks. 

The CFPB prepares an annual report and makes appropriate recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Secretary of Education, and Congress based on consumers complaints. 

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Want to share your student debt story?

We have added a submit section to the blog. Share your story. Let us know why you think student debt is a community problem. Let’s break the stigma of student debt together! 

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10 Student Loan Facts College Grads Need to Know

The majority of college graduates have student loans and need to develop a debt strategy, experts say.

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The amount of student debt in the U.S. is currently over $1.2 trillion, and still rising. 

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No, the Student Loan Crisis Isn’t Overblown

This article originally appeared in Inside Higher Ed. Since student debt, free tuition, and debt-free higher education have emerged as presidential cam ...

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Total Student Loan Debt: $1 Trillion College (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013) Two-thirds, that’s right, two-thirds of students graduating from American colleges and universities are graduating with some level of debt. How much? According to The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) Project [...]

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(via GIPHY)

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Student debt is a baby boomer problem, too

The number of older adults saddled with Parent PLUS loans has been growing steadily for the past decade, as has the number of defaults. Advocates say this troubling trend threatens the retirement landscape.

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WNY State Representatives

Contact yours today and tell them why student debt is a community issue! 

Keep reading to find your State Rep! 

NYS ASSEMBLY Peter Lawrence -- District 134 LOB Room 722 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4664 Fax:[phone] West Ridge Rd. Rochester, NY 14626 585-225-4190 Fax:[phone] [email protected]

Mark Johns -- District 135 LOB 549 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5784 268 Fairport Village Landing Fairport, NY 14450 585-223-9130 [email protected]

Joseph D. Morelle -- District 136 LOB 926 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5373 Fax:[phone] East Ridge Rd. Suite 103 Rochester, NY 14621 585-467-0410 Fax:[phone] [email protected]

David F. Gantt -- District 137 LOB 830 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5606 107 Liberty Pole Way Rochester, NY 14604 585-454-3670 [email protected]

Harry B. Bronson -- District 138 LOB 502 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4527 840 University Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 585-244-5255 [email protected]

Stephen Hawley -- District 139 Room 329 LOB Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5811 121 N. Main Street Suite 100 Albion, NY 14411 585-589-5780 [email protected]

Robin Schimminger -- District 140 LOB 847 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4767 3514 Delaware Avenue Kenmore, NY 14217 716-873-2540 [email protected]

Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes -- District 141 LOB 625 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5005 425 Michigan Avenue Buffalo, NY 14203 716-897-9714 [email protected]

Michael P. Kearns -- District 142 431 LOB Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4691 1074 Union Rd West Seneca, NY 14224 716-608-6099 Fax:[phone] [email protected]

Angela M. Wozniak -- District 143 LOB Room 721 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5921 Fax:[phone] Walden Avenue Suite 102 Cheektowaga, NY 14225 716-686-0080 Fax:[phone] [email protected]

Jane L. Corwin -- District 144 LOB 446 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4601 8180 Main Street Clarence, NY 14221 716-839-4691 [email protected]

John D. Ceretto -- District 145 LOB 639 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5284 800 Main Street, Suite 2C Niagara Falls, NY 14301 716-282-6062 [email protected]

Raymond Walter -- District 146 550 LOB Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4618 Fax:[phone] Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221 716-634-1895 [email protected]

David DiPietro -- District 147 LOB 543 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5314 411 Main St. E. Aurora, NY 14052 716-655-0951 Fax:[phone] [email protected]

Joseph M. Giglio -- District 148 LOB 439 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-5241 700 West State Street Olean, NY 14760 716-373-7103 [email protected]

Sean Ryan -- District 149 LOB 540 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4886 Fax:[phone] Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 716-885-9630 Fax:[phone] [email protected]

Andy Goodell -- District 150 LOB 545 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4511 Fenton Building 2 E. 2nd Street, Suite 320 Jamestown, NY 14701 716-664-7773 [email protected]

NYS SENATE Patrick M. Gallivan- 59th 2721 Transit Road, Suite 116 Elma, NY 14059 716-656-8544 947 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 518-455-3471 [email protected]

Timothy Kennedy -63rd 2239 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14220 716-826-2683 506 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 518-455-2426 [email protected]

Robert G. Ortt- 62nd 175 Walnut Street, Suite 6, Lockport, NY 14094 716-434-0680 815 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 518-455-2024

Marc C. Panepinto- 60th 65 Court Street, Room 213, Mahoney State Off. Bldg., Buffalo, NY 14202 716-854-8705 302 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 518-455-2760 [email protected]

Michael H. Ranzenhofer - 61st 8203 Main Street, Suite 3 and 4, Williamsville, NY 14221 716-631-8695 609 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 518-455-316 [email protected]

Joseph E. Robach-56th 2300 West Ridge Road , Rochester, NY 14626 585-225-3650 803 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 518-455-2909 [email protected]

Catharine M. Young-57th 700 West State Street , Olean, NY 14760 716-372-4901 307 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12247 518-455-3563 [email protected]

US CONGRESS

Tom Reed-23rd 2437 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] East 2nd St. Suite 300 Jamestown, NY 14701 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] John Kato-24th 1123 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Genesee St. Auburn, NY 13021 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Louise Slaughter- 25th 2469 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Federal Bldg. 100 State St. Rochester, NY 14614 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Brian Higgins-26th 2459 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Exchange Street, Suite 601 Buffalo, NY 14210 phone: [phone] fax: [phone]

Chris Collins-27th 1117 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Wehrle Drive Suite 13 Williamsville, NY 14221 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] US SENATORS

Kristen Gillibrand 478 Russell Washington, DC 20510 Tel. [phone] Fax [phone] Exchange Street, Suite 511 Buffalo, NY 14210 Tel. [phone] Fax [phone]

Charles E. Schumer 322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Third Avenue, Suite 2301 New York, NY 10017 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

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List of WNY elected officials

This list will be updated at the beginning of every year to include newly elected officials.  http://m.uploadedit.com/ba3s/1481692207992.pdf

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Write your elected official to act on legislation affecting student debt

This is a template to contact your elected official:

 [Date]

 (First name) (Last name)

(Address)

 RE: (state the topic or include the bill number, author and subject if you are writing to support or oppose a particular legislative bill)

 Dear (Assembly Member/Senator) (Last name):

My name is (your first and last name) and I am a citizen that resides in your district.  

Student debt is a community issue that burdens our schools, city, state, and country.  As you may know, Americans owe nearly $1.3 trillion in student loan debt, spread out among about 44 million borrowers. In fact, the average Class of 2016 graduate has $37,172 in student loan debt, up six percent from last year.  Students who graduate with excessive debt are about 10% more likely to say that it caused delays in major life events, such a buying a home, getting married, or having children. They are also about 20% more likely to say that their debt influenced their employment plans, causing them to take a job outside their field, to work more than they desired, or to work more than one job. 

Communities are burdened when their citizens are unable to fully participate because they cannot afford their monthly expenses and their student debt payments.   Communities work best when their citizens are able to fully participate, buy houses, start businesses, have kids, and live their lives without worrying about debt they got through bettering themselves with education. 

We need comprehensive student debt reform that acknowledges the burden student debt places on individuals and the communities in which they live. No one's life should be burdened or put on hold because they wanted to better themselves through higher education.  

I (support/oppose) bill number _______ because it will have a (positive/negative) impact on our current student debt crisis. (Choose three points that support your position and state them clearly).

Today’s economy makes a bachelor’s or associate’s degree a necessity.  When I graduate in ________/ when I graduated in _________ I will have accumulated _______ in student debt.  This handicapping amount of debt affects me because (tell a story of how your life is burdened by the amount of college debt you’ve acquired).

Please vote (for/against) bill number #______ as it will have a serious impact on our community debt crisis.  Please respond with how you intend to vote on this issue, and thank you for your time on this important issue.

 Sincerely,

  SIGN YOUR NAME

Print your name

Street address

City, State, Zip code

(Be sure to include your name and address on your envelope as well).

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Looking for the next crisis? Try student debt

Student loan debt is ricocheting through the U.S., affecting institutions and economic patterns that have been at the core of America's very power.

What does student debt affect in our community?  Birthrates, small businesses, and the ability to purchase a house...just to name a few.

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Why the Student Loan Crisis Is Even Worse Than People Think

More than 25% of students who take on college debt are graduating with way too much of it, this leading expert says. And the repercussions could be lifelong.

“In 1993-94, about half of bachelor’s degree recipients graduated with debt, averaging a little more than $10,000. This year, more than two-thirds of college graduates graduated with debt, and their average debt at graduation was about $35,000, tripling in two decades.”

Students who graduate with excessive debt are about 10% more likely to say that it caused delays in major life events, such a buying a home, getting married, or having children.

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The Real Reason College Tuition Has Increased

An alternative view on the role of state and federal funding